When I first told my students about a silent film project they didn't get excited.  I told them they had to make a flipbook film but they couldn't talk they weren't too excited.  I instructed them each write on construction paper and put any thoughts (even personal ones) they had on paper.  They shot and edited each of the films in Final Cut Pro X. 

This film is from Allen and he did an excellent job on the project.

After watching the Apple education keynote I decided to create a sample e-book or better yet, an iBook.  Here are a few things you should before downloading:

• Update your software. It supports Lion 10.7.2 and Keynote 5.1.1 or greater.
• If you don't have the app Pages, get it and learn it. The author app is similar to this.
• This book won't let you preview iBooks on your computer. You must tether it to an iPad.

I am making a tutorial video soon, but at first-glance I feel this is very promising.  I can't wait to see what Amazon and other companies are going to do next. 

I use LanSchool software to mange the lab of 18 iMac computers in my classroom. It has a good interface for creating and scoring tests, doing polls and sending files to students.

I am teaching Adobe Photoshop and showing my students how to use layers. This lesson got a big hit because of the flyer I created.  

Just another life lesson learned. Sometimes you learn them from the most unexpected people.

I taught my students how to make a slideshow and move it to the beat using iMovie and they used photos from Photobooth (a popular mac app) and a few photos from a digital camera.  To see all my students work visit http://www.baltimorecityschools.org/dizard

As a first year teacherAlmost every experienced teacher I meet tells me that the holiday season is a tough time in urban education. They tell me the kids are extra restless because winter break is almost here and many our students won't get many gifts for Christmas.

I informed my classes yesterday that our first semester ends January 20th and  this is the time to buckle down and really get your work done. In Baltimore traditionally the weather changes in December and attendance drops. I told my class it's easy to be a failure, but harder to be a success.  

December 1st is my 4 month  teaching in an urban school and it feels like 14 months. You see fights, kids curse teachers out, and most parents are not engaged. Everyday I tell myself I am here for a reason and even if one student benefits from my instruction it is worth it. I really enjoy teaching and the reward that it yields and even in tough times, I am ready to "tough it" out. 

“The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide you’re not going to stay where you are.”
- John Pierpont Morgan